Aeroplane



Nbv. 24, 1925 W. HALE AEROPLANE Filed April '7, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheel: 1

INVENTOR William Hale n24 M/ZWM WITNESS;

W. HALE Nov; 24, 1925.

AEROPLANE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I n m m w I Filed April 7, 1925 Wilzkm Hale INVENTOR ATTORN EY WITNESS:

Nov. 24, 1925- 1,563,278

. w. HALE I AEROPLANE Filed April 7'. 1925 s Sheets-Sheet s TTO EY WITNESS: A RN INVENTOR Patented Nov. 24, 1925.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM HALE, OF LITWAR, WEST VIRGINIA.

AEROPLANE.

Application filed April 7, 1925. Serial No. 21,337.

To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HALE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Litwar, in the county of McDowell and State of West Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Aeroplanes, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in aircrafts, the general object of the invention being to provide means wherebythe craft can be made to hover in the air and can ascend and descend vertically, as well as be propelled horizontally.

Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the device can be caused to run-along the ground the same as a wheeled vehicle and either in a forward or reversed direction, with means for steering the vehicle when moving in either direction.

This invention also consists in. certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully. described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure l is an elevation of the improved device.

Figure 2 is a section on line 22 of Figure 1. p y

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 2.

. Figure 4 a section on line 4-.4 of Figure 1. p

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Figure 3. f I

Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Figure 3.

'Figure 7 is a section on line 77 'of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a section on line 88 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is a sectional detail.

In these views, 1 indicates the body of the device which is formed-with a superstructure 2 which may contain guns 3. The body. 1 is provided with the usual port holes 4 and has one or more doors '5 therein, the base 6 being made of greater dimensions than the body so as to form a deck 7 which extends around the body. Springs 8 are attached to the base at the front and rear thereof and these springs support the axles 9 to which the wheels 10 are connected. The spindles of these wheels are pivoted to the axles and the spindles of each pair of' either end and in order to render inactive.

the steering means which are not being used I provide a hand bolt 16 which is adapted to pass through the steering column casing 17 and engage a hole in the movable part 18 of the column to prevent movement thereof. This arrangement permits the device to be steered along the ground in either direction so that it is .not necessary to turn the device around when it is to retrace its route.

A propeller 19 is placed at each end of the body, each propeller having a shank 20 arranged in a housing 21 extending from each end of the body and each shaft is connected by the driving means shown enerally at 22 to a motor 23 placed in t e body. These propellers can be used for causing the vehicle to travel along the ground as well as to propel the device horizontally when in the air. A horizontally arranged propeller 24: is arranged under the body between the two sets of wheels thereof and the shaft 25 of this propeller extends vertically into the body where it is connected with the motor 26. A horizontally arranged top proeller 27 is arranged above the device and has its shaft 28 passing through an upright housing 29 I on the super-structure 2 and through said super-structure into the body where it is connected with a motor 30 placed on a platform 31. in the body. I also provide a propeller 32 at each side of the body, the shafts of these propellers being connected to motors 33 placed in the body, one at each side thereof. Thus it will be seen that each propeller is driven by its own motorso that the propellers are independent of each other.

A win' 34 is hingedly connected with each side of t e body by having their pintles 35 engaging the brackets 36 fastened to the body and these wings are tilted simultaneously by an operator through means of the shaft 37 supported on the body and provided with one of the gears 40, this shaft 41 beingconnected with the shaft 39' by the gears 43, the shafts 39 and 39' having pinions 44 thereon which engage the segmental gears 45 connected with the wings 34. Thus when the operator turns the wheel 38 both 34*w1ll be adjusted simultaneously.

I also provide a rudder 46 at each end of the device, each rudder being manually adjusted by means of a shaft 47 having a handle 48 at its lower end and connected by the gears 49 with the rudder so that by turning the hand wheel 38 the rudder can be adju'sted. A plane 50 is arranged at the top, of the device and is pivoted at its center to the post 29 and this plane is adjusted manually by means of the shaft 52 having a hand wheel 53 at its lower end and the gear 54 at its upper end, which gear 54 meshes with a gear 54 on a stub shaft 55 which has a pinion 56 at its other end engaging a curved rack 57 which is attached to the plane. Figure. 9 shows how the pivot pins 58 for the rudders are held in the rudders by the set screws 59.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided an aircraft which can be caused to travel over the ground in either direction by operating either one of the horizontal propellers 19, with means for steering the craft from either end, with means for locking the steering mechanism which is not in use. By operating the propeller 27 the device may be caused to ascend 1n a vertical direction and by operating the propellers 24 and 27 and both propellers 19 ,as well as the side propellers 32 the device can be made to hover in the air and thus permit the gunners in operating the guns 3 to fire from a staplanes tionary ship. The planes and rudders in conjunction with the propellers are used for giving the ship its various movements.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages afr'd'novel features -of my invention will be readily .aplpareint.

at may I desire it to be understood t make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. An aircraft of the class. described comprising a body, running gears for the same, a propeller at each end of the body, an en-. gine for each propeller, steering mechanism at each end of the device and connected with the wheels of the running gears, means for locking the steering mechanism not being used and means for causing the vehicle to rise and descend.

2. An aircraft of the class described comprising a body, a propeller at each end thereof, a propeller under the body, a propeller at the top thereof, a propeller at each side of the body, a motor for driving each propeller gng adjustable planes connected with the o y. a

3. An aircraft of the class described comprising a body, a running gear for the same, a propeller at each end of the body, a propeller at each 'side of the body, a horizontal propeller below the body, a horizontal propeller above the body, a motor for, driving each propeller, a rudder at each end of the body, a wing at each side of the body, a plane at the top of the body and manually operated means for adjusting each wing, each rudder and plane.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM HALE. 

